Type-setting machine



(Numan.) 2 sheets-sheen 1.

'P. F. COX.

TYPE SETTING MACHINE.

No. 528,855. E Paten ed Nov. 6, 1894.

@No Model.) 2 sheets-Lsneen 2.

P.. T. 00X.; y TYPE SETTING MAGHINE. No. 528,855..v f ,n Patented Nov.6, 1894-.

THE News PETERS 60., PwUraLrrHm WASHINGTON, D, l:A

PAUL FLEMMING COX, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE COX TYPESETTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TYPE-SETTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 528,855, dated November6, 1 894. Application filed March 2,1894. Serial No. 502.098. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may con/cern.-

Be'it known that I, PAUL FLEMMING CoX, of Battle Creek, in the county ofCalhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new 5 and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Transmitting and Composing News; and I dohereby declare that the-following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to to the letters of reference marked thereon,

which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improved system ot' news transmission andcomposition; its object being to rapidly transmit news from'one point toanother point or points, and to' have the news as received at theseveral p oints simultaneously set up in type or matter ready forprinting, so that at the receiving offices the news is first to be readin type instead of zo being received and taken down onpaper as in theordinary telegraphic transmission of news, where operators write downthe news as received; or as in the printing telegraph or telautographsystems, where the matter is copied out upon paper by the machineitself. In both of these systems however it is necessary that the matterreceived be distributed to compositors and put in type subsequent to itsreception, involving necessarilyr 3o much time in its originaltransmission and reception; and more time in its composition afterreception. Obviously therefore a practical invention by which the newscan be transmitted great distances and appear at the receiving officesin type ready for printing would be of great value, and this is myobject and what I have accomplished by my' invention, one practicalsystem and apparatus being set forth in the appended specific 4odescription and drawings.

Briefly the invention consists in the combination with a transmitter forsending words, syllables, letters, tbc., of a machine or machinessituated more or less remote from the transmitter, and electricallyconnected therewith, adapted to receive and simultaneously compose thematter transmitted so that it can be at once taken to the press orstereotyping rooms the transmitted matter actually appearing in type.

Moreover the invention not only saves time at the receiving stations bycomposing the matter transmitted automatically; but at the transmittingstation also, for the transmitter can be so arranged that it can beworked like an ordinary type writer by persons unskilled, a simpledepression of a key of the transmitter bearing the proper letterorfcharacter insuring the simultaneous composing of a type character,correspondingto the.charac 6o ter on the depressed transmittervkey, atthe receiving stations, and the machines being capable of composingmatter about as fast as the keys of the transmitter can be operated thenumber of Words which can betransmittcd in a given time will far exceedthe speed with which ordinary telegraphic messages can be sent.

My invention is chiefly designed for press reports, and by employing ita reporter. can 7o not only send his news himself,but also compose itintype by one and. the same operaltion so far as he is concerned, andwith almost as much speed as he could write.

More specifically the invention consists in a plurality of independentsimilar machines v for composing matter to be printed, located atseparate points, and a transmitter having a series of keys one for eachprinting character or type contained in each ofthe said So machines, andelectrical connections between each of the keys of said transmitter andthe corresponding character manipulating de'vice of each mechanism;wherebyupon the depression of any key of the( transmitter thecorresponding character is composed in each of the said mechanisms.

I have illustrated my invention in connection with machines forsettingnordinary type and one feature of my invention is the elec- 9otrical deviceswhereby such a .machine may be electrically operated; yetI do not consider it limited to the employment of machines for settingcommon font type, as it is obviously possible,with my invention known,

to employ other machines, whichwillcomsuch machines are wholly incapableof performing. Such heretofore known machines for the purpose ofordinary telegrap'nic communication I disclaim.

I will now describe an operative novel apparatus by which my inventioncan be worked.

Referring to the accompanying drawing. Figure 1 is a diagrammatic planview illustrating the invention, and showing in detail part of thetransmitter, and part of one of the composing machines, and electricalconnections therebetween,sulicient to impart a clear understanding ofthe invention in connection with this description. Fig. 2 is adiagrammatic sectional view of Fig. l. Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detailvertical sectional views of the mechanism for operating the ejectors andthe electrical controlling devices. Fig. 5 is a detail view of thedevice for aligning the type.

The composing machina-The composing machines which I propose to employare constructed like that shown in my application for Letters Patent sofar as relates to the arrangement of the type reservoirs, the carrierbelts, and the composing or assembling mechanism, but the presentinvention involves an improvement on said machines, which is theproviding of novel means for operating the type ejectors and controllingthe action thereof by electricity.

I have deemed it unnecessary to show herein the entire machine, but haveillustrated enough to give a clear understanding of the invention.

Referring to the drawings by letters,therefore, the composing mechanism,is provided .with va series of type holders A each adapted to contain aset of similar types or logotypes, which can be ejected singly by meansof ej ectors A upon an endless carrier belt B, by which the types areconducted to a chute B through which they pass into a composing channelor raceway B3, wherein they are aligned and pushed forward by a rockingsetter B4. The ejectors are operated by means of bell crank leve-rs Z)pivoted at their bends on'a suitable support B5 below the ejectors, andpositively rocked in one direction by means hereinafter described andpushed back, to retract the ejectors by springs h as shown. These abovementioned parts are constructed and arranged substantially as describedin my aforesaid application and need no further description herein.

A parallel series of vertical push rods C is arranged below thehorizontal arms of the levers, one rod for each lever, the rods bei-ngsuitably guided in the support B5. Close to and parallel with the seriesof rods C is a shaft D which is rapidly rotated by any prime mover, notshown, as by the electrical motor which drives the carrier belt.) Thisshaft carries a set of dogs d, one for each push rod, which are confinedin radial sockets or bores in the shaft, and are normally projected bysprings CZ. If not retracted, these dogs will strike the lower ends ofthe push rods and lift them thereby rock ing the levers and pushing theejectors forward ejecting types from the holders upon the belts. As theshaft rotates the dogs will disengage the rods and allow them to drop,the springs immediately throwing the ejectors back.

In order to prevent the rods being lifted, except as desired in theoperation of type-setting or composing matter, some means must beemployed to keep the dogs retracted. As shown I employ an independentretractor E for each dog. The retractor consists of a horizontal metalplate set underneath the rod and opposite the operative dog thereof,with its head end e standing normally in the path of the dog, and curvedor beveled in such manner that when the retractor is pushed forwarduntil it almost touches the shaft, the dog which normally projects fromthe shaft, will strike thereagaiust and as the shaft rotates be forcedinward by the converging surfaces ot` the retractor and shaft which willbe clearly understood -by observation of Figs. 3 and 4. The lower end ofrod C rests upon the head e, and when the retractor is pushed toward theshaft, as it is normally, it is impossible for the dog to catch underthe end of rod. See Fig. 3. Then the retractor is drawn back out of theway however (as in Fig. 4) the dog will catch and lift the rod.

The retractor is thrown back by a spring F, and is thrown forward, ateach lifting of the rod C, by an oscillating lever G which is fulcrumedon a supportf above the retractor, its lower end engaging a notch E inthe upper edge of the retractor its upper end standing close against rodC in position to be engaged by a cam lug C""thereon. When the retractoris thrown back rod C will be lifted, and thereupon operate the ejector,throwing out the type upon the belt, and as the rod rises cam C contactsthe upper end of lever G rocking it, and causing it to positively movethe retractor outward against or toward the shaft and tension spring Fin which position the retractor is locked by a catch H pivoted on asupport 7i attached to the top of the machine as shown. The rod C dropsby gravity, aided by spring b', to the position shown in Fig. 3.

There is a retractor and its actuating and controlling devices for eachrod, and as they are close together the alternating catches H ceases lSprings may be employed to throw the-catches 4 matter.

in position to lock the retractors. New when either magnet is energizedby the passage of an electric current it will attract the armature onthe proximate latch H, and disengage the latch from the retractor,whereupon the spring throws the retractor back, and im mediately the dogon the revolving shaft lifts the proximate push rod and thecorresponding type is ejected. This being clear, it is only necessary toprovide a means for energizing any magnet at will, to enable the machineto be electrically operated to compose This I accomplish as follows:

A transmitter having a number of keys, each marked with aletter, figure,punctuation mark, logotype, space, &c., is located at a suitable pointfor receiving and transmitting news. There is one key on the transmitterfor every type character, logotype, space, dac., employed in thecomposing machine. The keys lnay be arranged like telegraphictransmitters so as to respectivelyestablish an electrical circuit whendepressed. As shown each key .I is mounted on a bar j insulated from theothers and pivoted on a studj at rear and upheld by a spring 7'2, butwhen depressed bar y' will contact with a rod J which is electricallyconnected through wirez with the positive pole of a battery Z or othersource of electrical energy, the negative pole of which is in electricalcommunication with the earth or a return wire. Each key-bar is connectedby a wireK with a binding post K on the machine, and from this post by awire IS.2 with the positive pole of the electro magnet controlling theoperation of the mechanism for ejecting the type corresponding to thecharacter upon the key-bar in the transmitter; the current passing fromthe electro-magnet through a wire 7c to another binding post k', andfrom thence through a wire k2 on to another machine or to the ground.Every key of the transmitter is thus electrically connected to andcontrols the corresponding type mechanism in the composing machine, ormachines, for practically it is intended that there shall be a number ofsimilar machines at different points which are all connected in the sameelectrical circuits from the transmitter, so that upon the depresandthrough each machine, releasing the corresponding character composingmechanism therein and thus machines hundreds of miles distant from theoperator and from each other can be simultaneously worked.

The matter composed may be justified by hand, or mechanically, thisjustification not being of the essence of theinvention.

I have illustrated a separate wire and therefore separate current orcircuit for each character. This obviates the danger of confusion ofcurrents or of improper action of the apparatus, by reason of inductionand variation in the current, which has'becn found a serious, andfrequently insurmountable obstacle to the operation of electricalwriting machines intended to be controlled by variation the shaft D, ofeach machine. In order to save power at the local offices, one of thekeys of the transmitter may be arranged to start and stop the motorswhich drive the machines, but this forms no part of present invention.

The cable can be cut wherever it is desired to locate a composingmachine.

Having thus fully described iny invention, what I claim as new is l. Thecombination of a plurality of independent machines for composingmatterto be printed each having type holding -chan-4 nels, typeejectors, push rods and connections for operating said ejectors, arotary shaft provided with a series of dogs adapted to operate saidrods, a series of retractors for normally preventing engagement of saiddogs with the rods, an electric locking device for each retractor, andmeans for resetting it upon the movement of the corresponding vpush rod;with a transmitter having a series of keys, one for each printingcharacter or type contained in each of said mechanisms, with independentelectric connections between each key of said transmitter and theelectric locking devices of the corresponding characters in the severalmechanisms, whereby upon the depression of any key of the transmitterthe corresponding character is composed in each of said machines,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of a push rod, a rotating dog, and a retractor, alockand a releasing device therefor, substantially as described.

3. The combination cf a push rod, a radially movable rotating dog, aretractor, and an electrically controlled locking device for saidretractor, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a push rod, a movable dog adapted to engagetherewith, a rotating shaft carrying said dog means for nor- ICO IIO

mally preventing engagement of the dog with said rod, and devices forwithdrawing said means, substantially as described.

5. The combination of mechanism for ejecting a type, a rotating dog foroperating said mechanism, a retractor for normally preventing said dogoperating said mechanism a lock for said retractor and an electricaldevice for releasing said lock, substantially as and for the purpose setforth. y

6. The combination of a push rod, a rotating dog for operating said rod,a retractor for normally preventing engagement of the dog with the rod,and means wherebyr said retractor is thrown back to normal position uponthe lifting of the rod, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a type ejector, a bell crank lever and push rodfor operating said ejector, a rotary dog for lifting said rod, aretractor for normally preventing engage ment of the dog and rod, meansfor withdrawing said retractor when released, and an electricallycontrolled locking device therefor, substantially as set forth.

S. The combination of a type ejector, a bell crank lever and push rodfor operating said ejector, a rotary dog for lifting said rod, aretractor for normally preventing engagement of the dog and rod; meansfor withdrawing said retractor when released, and an electricallycontrolled locking device therefor, and means whereby upon the liftingof the rod said retractor is moved back to normal position.

9. The combination of the series of push rods, a rotating shaft having aseries of dogs respectively adapted to operate one of said rods;separate devices for normally preventing said dogs engaging said rods,and electrically controlled mechanism whereby either of said devices maybe released, thereby allowing the relative dog to lift the rod, andmeans for resetting the device at each lifting of the rod, substantiallyas specified.

10. The combination of the push rods, the rotating dogs adapted toengage therewith, the retractors, the springs for withdrawing them,devices for separately locking the retractors in forward position, andthe electro magnets for releasing said locking devices, substantially asdescribed.

ll. The combination of the push rods, the rotating dogs adapted toengage therewith, the retractors, the springs for withdrawing them,devices for separately locking the retractors in forward position, andthe electro magnets for releasing said locking devices, and means forresetting each retractor each time the corresponding rod is moved by thedog, substantially as described.

12. The combination of the push rod, the retractile dog carried by saidshaft, the retractor adapted to prevent engagement of the dog with therod, the spring for withdrawing said retractor; the electricallycontrolled locking device for said retractor, and the oscillating leverwhereby the retractor is moved back to normal position by the lifting ofthe rod, Substantially as described.

13. The combination with the type-ejectors of a type setting machine,the push rods and connections for operating said ejectors; a rotatingshaft carrying a series of spring projected dogs adapted to operate saidrods, the series of retractors for normally preventing engagement ofsaid dogs with the rods, an electrical locking device for eachretractor, and means for withdrawing it when released, and for resettingit upon the movement of its push rod, with a transmitter having a seriesof keys, and independent electrical circuit connections between each keyof the transmitter and the locking device of the retractor controllingthe mechanism for ejecting the type corresponding to the transmitterkey, whereby upon the depression of any key of the transmitter thecorresponding type is ejected and composed inthe machine, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

l PAUL FLEMMING COX. IVitnesses:

J. L. COX, W. S. LEONARD.

